ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 11, 1996 TAG: 9612110067
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: DAVID BRIGGS ASSOCIATED P[RESS
Before Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan - presidents whose talk of faith did not stop some from questioning their religious commitment - there was Jimmy Carter.
An openly born-again Christian, Carter started the revival of evangelical interest in politics.
Unlike Clinton and Reagan, history did not accord him a second term of president.
The Iran hostage crisis - and Carter's unpopular decision not to punish the revolutionary new government and thereby risk the lives of the captured diplomats - blunted his re-election effort.
But Carter remained at peace before God with his decision, an action of valuing human life he still defends, he explains in a new book discussing the intersection of faith and public life.
``I remain convinced that the wisest course for a mighty nation when confronted with a challenge like the hostage crisis is one of caution and restraint,'' Carter writes in ``Living Faith'' from Times Books.
``For a person of faith, in particular, I believe that all decisions of war and peace must be made with the awareness that human life is never to be lightly sacrificed.''
The book traces Carter's personal spiritual journey from boyhood to the presidency and beyond.
As a teen-ager and into young adulthood, worried that he would someday be separated from his parents, Carter said he would recognize his own doubts by ending every prayer with the words, ``And God, please help me believe in the resurrection.''
When he lost the Georgia governor's election in 1966 to Lester Maddox, a segregationist, Carter says he was tempted to abandon his faith, but he continued to search for God's will, finding that Jesus would be with him in times of trouble.
At this point in his life, Carter said in a recent interview, ``Having faith, for me at least, is at the core of my existence.''
Given the public's tolerance for scandal in politicians today, it is hard for some to grasp how badly Carter was hurt by the 1976 Playboy interview in which he admitted having lusted in his heart.
In his book, Carter said the interview caused a precipitous drop in his popularity and almost cost him the election.
Two decades later, he flashes his famous smile in an interview as he recounts how a number of famous pastors and television evangelists later denied ever having sexual thoughts in their minds or hearts except about their wives.
But it was the Iran hostage crisis - what Carter calls the worst political experience of his life - that eventually sealed the end of his career as an elected public official.
In his book, Carter said he knew ordering military action against Iran would be the easy and popular thing to do.
And he also said he sent Iran a secret message saying the United States would respond militarily if any hostages were harmed.
But in his prayers - and he never prayed as much as he did when he was president - Carter said he would ask God for sound judgment and the ability to alleviate suffering.
He added that he never prayed for higher popularity ratings or that he would be re-elected.
During that time, Carter also said he would keep the memory of each hostage alive, frequently meeting with their families.
``I was absolutely determined that I would use my utmost influence to preserve their lives,'' he said.
In the end, the hostages were released unharmed, but not before Reagan won election.
Since then, the former Georgia peanut farmer has been busy with the Carter Center, established in 1982 to promote democracy and resolve civil strife, and with groups such as Habitat for Humanity, building houses worldwide.
In his latest book, he urges others to have a ``living'' faith.
``All of us need to look at ourselves, our circumstances, the environment in which we live, and ask: Within my own talent and realm of possibilities, what can I find to do that would be good and lovely?''
LENGTH: Medium: 80 linesby CNB